MountainCity’s Official Bio

(Denver, CO)  What do you most want to know about Dave and Tara Powers of MountainCity?

MountainCity’s first release, June 2016, This is Love [CLICK IMAGE to listen or purchase]

Their band bio was recently updated on the About page. It fills in all the facts from the band’s start to the present.

Our story

Falling somewhere between a random accident, an organic progression and a romantic destiny, the Denver-based duo comprised of Dave and Tara Powers definitely stumbled upon a gem of an idea when they merged as musical partners in MountainCity. Perhaps more than any other act in recent memory, the pair is revolutionizing the love song genre, building a tight-knit community based on purposeful intent in the process, but without even the slightest shred of industry agenda.

“We try to create musical environments that are memorable and meaningful,” suggests Dave of these expert storytellers who derive their name from a mutual affinity for both nature and nightlife. “As much as we love telling stories, we’re also just as much the question askers because getting to know other people’s stories is an equally important part of wherever this journey may take us all.”

And since the start of 2016 (at least in official capacity), that’s exactly what MountainCity’s been up to in spades, whether it be through a series of single releases every month or two spanning folk-pop, country, blue-eyed soul, electronic remixes and instrumentals, performing at various venues and even people’s homes, or their weekly streaming sessions on Facebook Live (Wednesdays at 7:30pm MST) where they sing, shine the spotlight on guests and artistic partners, plus interact with their virtual audience (now more than 8,000 strong). However, none of that would’ve even been considered let alone come to fruition had it not been for a fateful night a few years before when these parents of two children received unexpected marquee billing at an advocacy event.

“Originally we were just going to provide some very low key background music at a fundraiser,” notes singer/guitar player, Dave, who’s shared a musical bond with his walking jukebox of a wife and fellow vocalist/songwriter, Tara, since they struck up a relationship in their early twenties. “We had a few our of favorite love song covers ready, but when we arrived, there we were printed right on the program ‘Special Concert: Dave and Tara Powers!’”

Although Tara was totally cool as ice, Dave admits to having a bit more trepidation, and while the underprepared performance was far from flawless, it was an absolute blast. That unexpected night also began the thought process for the pair to legitimately string together a show of covers and attempts at striking some of their own songwriting oil, which after a season of germination, led the pair to rent out a local venue and spread the word amongst friends and family, spawning an instant sell out and sparking an idea to eventually go in the studio thanks to support from friends and family on Kickstarter.

“It was almost as hilarious as it was mind-blowing because we didn’t ever have a dream of starting a band together, so this is really just an extension of us- playful, authentic and deeply in love- on stage,” continues Dave, who along with Tara, constantly radiate huge smiles, laughter and an all-around easygoing, disarming demeanor. “We’re married to each other, but we also actually really like each other and we have a blast doing this together…”

“When the creativity of music is mixed with the power of love, something like magic happens.” echoes Tara. “MountainCity started after a few really difficult years for us. Playing music together has always been a part of our lives, but when we started writing and singing love songs together, there was so much life and joy in it for us. Our music is us being genuinely, authentically who we are and offering our creativity to the world through the simple gift of a song and the powerful gift of love.”

A little country, a little fun. Tara says this song is for dancing in the kitchen. [CLICK IMAGE to listen or purchase]

Drawing inspiration from affectionately-linked couples like JohnnySwim, Johnny and June Carter Cash and Joey & Rory or the individual likes of Carole King, Al Green, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz and so many more greats dating back to the standards era has led to diverse yet consistently timeless results. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the soulful, pure and powerfully voiced Dave has played guitar since he was 8, began performing publically by 16 and really became a melodic six-string slayer by his early twenties, while Tara (known for a singing cocktail that swirls around the sweet, smooth, breathy and sultry) practically breathed love-themed music spanning from the 1940s through the ‘90s throughout her childhood.Yet rather than merely scratching the surface, perpetuating a casual stay-the-night mentality or re-stating the obvious,  MountainCity strives to honor, treasure and untangle the essence of love within the context of a committed relationship, whether that be romantic or platonic. In other words, expect to hear all about stories of love, the value of love, loss, beauty, honor and pretty much every other descriptor imaginable when it comes to the looks, feels, sounds and even tastes of what it’s like to be around true, committed and enduring love wrapped around an engaging, articulate and memorable approach. Tara explains their “why” this way: “Whether it’s through our recorded music or in live venues, we want to create environments where people who are stressed can be refreshed a bit, and where people who have temporarily lost sight of what love is can encounter it in fresh ways.”“We want the people who hear our music or see us live to be impacted positively in their souls and spirits,” sums up Dave in a statement echoed ever so eloquently by an anonymous concertgoer’s glowing online post. “The experience of a song and a story combusts in a wonderful journey of your soul being restored, your mind being renewed and your spirit soaring.”

And considering the joyful, contemplative and affirming expressions that flow so effortlessly out of the couple, the possibilities are as breathtaking as the view from highest peak, the tallest skyscraper, or arguably even better, the combined awe of each limitless perspective MountainCity has to offer. Let the climb begin!

Remix version of MountainCity’s sultry Hearts Collide. [CLICK IMAGE to listen or buy]

MountainCity streams on Facebook Live each Wednesday night [by announced schedule only during the summer months] at 7:30 pm MST where they sing songs, spotlight other artists and sponsors, and interact with the online audience. The band performs live concerts, festivals, and house concerts nationally. They plan to release a Christmas EP later this year. When they’re not playing live shows, they’re at work songwriting, recording and releasing songs.

———– ♦ ———–

Dave would like to thank his sponsor, LR Baggs

Here is what Dave has to say about them:

“Ohhhh man…these pickups. Where do I start? I have LR Baggs Anthem pickups in pretty much every acoustic guitar that I play live. They are MINDBLOWING!

I also have a Session DI and when you mix that with the Anthem it’s other-worldly! Without a doubt, these are the finest sounding pickups that I’ve EVER played or heard, hands down!

I’m sitting here writing about them and all I want to do is stop writing and go play my McPherson with the LR Baggs Anthem pickup in it! It is a great privilege for me to be a part of the LR Baggs Family of Artists, and I absolutely encourage you to try them out!”  https://www.lrbaggs.com